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THE COAST NEWS
.com MAKING WAVES IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD
VOL. 25, NO. 28
JULY 22, 2011
Council talks on releasing records
THISWEEK
By Wehtahnah Tucker
o’clock when people are staggering out of the bars, we want taxis there for them,” Coleman said. “What we don’t want are the taxis in front of (the restaurants) at 7 o’clock at night taking up parking spaces meant for the customers, being rude to the...people on the streets, hanging around the back of the cabs, having their cigarettes, putting them out in the streets,” he said. Jen Grove, executive director of the Del Mar Village Association, described the problem as “an
ENCINITAS — City Council said it would review which documents it releases to the public during a regular meeting July 20.The discussion was the result of the city’s defeat in a lawsuit over public records release and the court’s subsequent denial to grant the city’s appeal of the original decision. Specifically, the city’s electronic communications policy detailing when draft versions of city documents should be made available to the public is at issue. Judge Timothy Casserly ordered the city to release the draft study of road conditions prepared by Nichols Consulting Engineers May 24. Kevin Cummins, a local resident and frequent critic of City Hall, sued the city after it refused to disclose the public document. The 4th District California Court of Appeals declined to hear the city’s appeal earlier this month. As a result,the city is stuck with a legal tab of almost $30,000, according to Councilwoman Kristin Gaspar’s figures. However, Cummins’ attorney has yet to be paid fees he was awarded as a result of his client’s victory in the case.That amount totals an additional $40,000. After a two-hour closed session June 3, City Council voted to appeal the ruling despite a firestorm of criticism from residents. The 4-1 vote, with Councilwoman Teresa Barth dissenting, enraged some citizens, while baffling others. “I’m still just utterly confused why (the council) would keep fighting the order when the judge so clearly stated the reasons that the document must be released,” said Paul Winters, a Leucadia resident. “It really just underscores how hard-headed the council is about the public meddling into their business.” The council voted last
TURN TO TAXIS ON A22
TURN TO RECORDS ON A15
THE GREEN GRASS GROWERS A local man leads the way in supplying stores along the coast with organic wheatgrass. B1
GONE DOG WILD Dogs in North County have their place to roam free again as Oceanside’s Dog Park reopens.
A3
INSIDE
TWO SECTIONS, 44 PAGES
Calendar . . . . . . . . . . . . A7 Camp Pendleton News . . B12 Classifieds . . . . . . . . . . B15 Comics & Puzzles . . . . . B18 Consumer Reports . . . . . A6 Doorman Diaries . . . . . . B3 Frugal Living . . . . . . . . . . B5 Legal Notices . . . . . . . . A17 Life, Liberty, Leadership . . A4 Obituaries . . . . . . . . . . A10 Odd Files . . . . . . . . . . . . A3 Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . . A4 Pet Central . . . . . . . . . . A10 Recipe page . . . . . . . . . A15 Sea Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . B9 Small Talk . . . . . . . . . . . B1 Taste of Wine . . . . . . . . A9 Who’s News? . . . . . . . . . A9
HOW TO REACH US (760) 436-9737 CALENDAR SECTION: calendar@coastnewsgroup.com COMMUNITY NEWS: community@coastnewsgroup.com LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: letters@coastnewsgroup.com
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DEL MAR — Dog Beach was brimming with Bocce-ballers for the sold out 31st annual Vigilucci’s Beach Bocce Ball World Championship July 16. Apart from all of the fun on the fields of play, the event served to raise funds for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Carlsbad. For more photos from the event, turn to Page A16. Photos by Daniel Knighton
Taxi regulations to take effect immediately By Bianca Kaplanek
DEL MAR — In response to complaints about traffic and safety from residents and business owners, City Council unanimously adopted an emergency ordinance to regulate taxis during their July 11 meeting. The new law, which takes effect immediately, restricts cabs from parking or waiting in any area of the city between 8 a.m. and 10 p.m., and establishes the four parallel parking spots in front of Jimmy O’s Sports Bar on 15th Street as a dedicated taxi stand zone from 10 p.m. to 8 a.m. The availability of cabs is
important late at night when bars close to prevent alcoholrelated collisions and fatalities. The taxi-zone spaces will be identified with appropriate signage and curb markings. Violators will be fined $43. Cab drivers may stop in any available parking space at any time to load or unload passengers. Gretchen Crowson, assistant to the city manager, said cab drivers create significant traffic circulation and pedestrian safety issues when they stop, start and make U-turns attempting to solicit fares from people on the sidewalks. “In addition, taxicabs
often wait or stage in public parking stalls for possible fares during the day, and sometimes for hours,” Crowson said. This limits the number of parking spaces for restaurants and retail customers, she said. Jim Coleman, whose insurance business is on Camino del Mar, said he was highly in support of the new law. “I couldn’t be happier about it,” he said, noting that the problem has grown by huge amounts over the last six months. Coleman said he has photos of about a dozen taxis taking up parking spaces. “We all agree, at 10
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